Bud ;
Be aware that's all in a perfect world ~ at rest the average vehicle battery will be right around 12 VDC , this isn't bad as a 12 volt battery has 6 cells and each cell is rated for two volts .
Mercedes uses BIG 950 CCA batteries in the Diesels , most places sell 850 CCA replacements and they're fine .
When you're out and about , idling at a stop light , lights on , radio playing heater softly blowing and so on , don't panic if the system voltage drops slowly until it reaches 11 VDC
This is why I use the Bosch branded voltage regulators , to keep the charge rate up and the battery fully charged .
Tom and I bought some nifty battery / alternator charge gauges @ wallymart , they plug into the cigarette lighter hole and give you an on going view of how good your charge is as well as the battery's state of charge . IIRC these were like $21.
Keeping the battery clean and dry will prevent the slight parasitic voltage loss that can cause cold weather starting troubles .
I wash my battery with soap and water once a year , allow to dry well whilst I use baking soda to clean up the cable clamps .
Keeping the engine sharply tuned (regular valve adjustments and fuel filter changes) plus following the proper cold starting drill will ensure fast starts even when it's cold .
It is normal to only show 11 volts when the starter is operating . gasoline engines can drop to 9 volts and still be fine .
-Nate
Bud Wrote :
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